[š„š„ Support link: patreon.com/MrGhost69
You can find 40+ chapters ahead hereĀ š„š„]
"Cousin! Cousin!" In Fan Lianghan's room, the man was kneeling before Chai An, hugging his shoulders, whining piteously and calling out to him, hoping for a response.
Chai An, who had been enjoying himself on a reclining chair, withdrew his hand with a look of exasperation. He glanced at his cousin, who seemed to have been imperfectly castrated, and said with clear distaste, "Speak properly! What's with this madness? It's disgusting!" Although Chai An and Fan Lianghan had a decent relationship, he consistently found his cousin's effeminate behavior unbearable. Furthermore, Fan Lianghan had just been forced to drink a bellyful of boy's urine, and now his words carried a strong, pungent odor, which made Chai An feel even more nauseated!
"Cousin! My mother-in-law and my wife's sisters are all in the capital. How am I supposed to live my life now?!" Fan Lianghan said, looking at Chai An with a sorrowful expression, completely unbothered by the disgust in the other's eyes. When a person completely loses their self-respect, they often appear this way!
"The Li family are all women; just take good care of them, won't you?" Chai An frowned, looking at Fan Lianghan. "Why are you speaking such nonsense here?" At this moment, Chai An had already realized that the Li family's mother and daughters were certainly not to be trifled with, and he himself was unwilling to get involved. His cousin was truly incorrigible. He and Fu Hui already had no affection for each other, and now he wasn't clarifying things with his parents, instead allowing them to bully Fu Hui, which led to today's outcome of being forced to drink urine. Thinking of this, Chai An felt that it was safer to stay away from Fan Lianghan and Fu Hui, lest he, like before, also get a few drops of urine splashed on him.
"Cousin, you don't know..." Fan Lianghan hadn't realized that Chai An had no intention of helping him at all, and was still single-mindedly trying to get him to assist. However, before he could finish his plea, he heard the thump, thump, thump of footsteps coming up the stairs.
"Help! Brother Fan!" Following closely, two profligate youths dressed in maid's clothing came scrambling up the stairs. Their eyes immediately lit up when they saw Fan Lianghan.
"Did you offend my wife?" Fan Lianghan, seeing their appearance, immediately thought of this possibility and quickly asked. After all, in his understanding of the entire Fan family, only Fu Hui, that tigress, could have put his two classmates in such a miserable state. Hadn't he himself just been forced to drink a pot of boy's urine not long ago? Looking at these two, nine times out of ten, it was the same for them! And Chai An looked at the two men dressed in women's clothing with a bewildered expression. He truly gained some experience coming to his cousin's house today!
"No... not Sister-in-law!" The two profligate youths in women's clothing quickly waved their hands and said, "It was a young lady, with a very pleasant voice!" "Yes, yes! Very fierce! So scary!" "And there was a fiend! Just came up and smack... started hitting people!" "Yes, yes! And she cursed very filthily!" ...The two vividly described what had just happened to Fan Lianghan, though of course, their account was completely embellished. This alone made Fan Lianghan's brows furrow. He now knew that the ones who had dealt with these two were not only his wife but also his wife's sisters. Good heavens! You saw the Li family's tigresses and didn't stay away? You just had to provoke all of them, didn't you?
In fact, these two profligate youths running over to complain to Fan Lianghan now was something they had already discussed! The Li family women had Marquis Wei backing them in the courtyard, so they dared not openly seek revenge. Even if they reported it to their own influential families, it was likely that, intimidated by Marquis Jining's prestige, they would be told to swallow the losses they incurred today. But the problem was, these two profligate youths had never suffered such humiliation, and after much thought, they felt they couldn't swallow this insult. So, the two had just agreed on a brilliant plan: to trick Fan Lianghan into stepping forward to teach these Li family women a lesson. After all, this was the Fan Residence, and as the host, Fan Lianghan naturally had a responsibility to hold the Li family's mother and daughters accountable for assaulting guests. Moreover, even if the Marquis sought retaliation later, it would only fall upon the Fan family, having nothing to do with their two families.
However, when these two saw that Fan Lianghan showed no anger, but instead became frightened, they knew that this fellow certainly wouldn't be able to avenge them today! But their eyes darted, and a new idea suddenly struck them.
"Oh, right! They also said that anyone who associates with Brother Fan is not a good person!" "Yes, yes! They also said that in the future, they'd hit one if they saw one, and hit a pair if they saw a pair!" "Especially Brother Chai!" "Yes!"
The two profligates, one after another, concocted rumors, even dragging in Chai An, who was completely unrelated. After all, who in their circle didn't know Chai An's personality? He appeared serious and just on the surface, but in reality, he loved to show off! Now, hearing someone talk about him like that behind his back, could this "King of Show-offs" endure it?
"Still trying to lie and provoke me?" Of course, Chai An, this young master, wasn't so easily fooled! Although he loved to show off, he wasn't an idiot, especially since Marquis Jining was involved in this matter. "I don't even know him, why would they hit me for no reason?" The two profligate young masters were startled, but they had long anticipated this situation, so they naturally had a countermeasure.
"They said you were the vanguard who instigated Brother Fan to rebuild his marital authority!" "You're usually arrogant and condescending, the most rude and disrespectful!" "Brother Chai, you must be careful!"
The two fabricated another string of lies targeting Chai An and then spoke them. At this, Chai An's eyes moved, and he seemed to be somewhat convinced.
"That beauty with the shovel must be Fifth Aunt!" "And the one telling jokes and playing tricks must be Third Aunt!" "My several sisters-in-law usually greet people with three parts smile, but their mother and sisters are their inverse scale; touch them, and their expression changes!" "It's all your fault; now you've dragged me into this too!"
Fan Lianghan's body trembled as he spoke, recalling the scene where Fu Hui forced him to drink boy's urine. He truly didn't want to experience that again.
"The Li family sisters want to settle scores with me?" At this moment, Chai An, who had been silent, finally stood up. With a pretentious air, he clasped his hands across his chest, lifted his head, and looked into the distance, saying, "Very well! I was just looking for a challenge!" Seeing this, the two profligate youths' eyes immediately lit up. Sure enough, their plan had succeeded! This Chai An is truly a show-off king; isn't he eager to show off now?
In reality, it's no wonder such rumors existed in the capital's gentry circles. After all, Chai An always appeared as a humble gentleman in front of outsiders and elders. But these profligate youths, who played together, naturally knew his true personality. Like the current situation, these two profligate youths were even wearing women's clothing! Why would they wear women's clothing in another family's grand residence? Did they even need to think about it? The fact that these two hadn't been beaten out by the master of the house with clubs and sent to the authorities for punishment was already a show of mercy! In this situation, anyone with a bit of sense wouldn't meddle in their mess, but Chai An was precisely the exception! With just a few simple words, he was actually going to stand up for these two profligate youths who pretended to be women in someone else's courtyard, attempting to molest female guests?! One could only say that the title "King of Show-offs" did not come from nowhere!
"Cousin! You can't go, you're courting death!" Fan Lianghan, the effeminate man, was terrified upon seeing Chai An actually going to provoke his wife and those sisters-in-law. He quickly tried to stop him. The other two profligate youths, of course, chuckled, and while surrounding Chai An and acting pompous as they walked out the door, they deliberately kept Fan Lianghan behind them, fearing he would block Chai An's path.
"Oh, Mother! Please stay a little longer!" The Li family's mother and daughters strolled through the garden. Second Daughter Fu Hui clung to Lady Li Niang's arm with a reluctant expression, speaking coquettishly. At this moment, the banquet in the veranda had also ended. The Li family's mother and daughters walked in front, while Wei Tingyu held Dou Ming's small hand, following behind them, enjoying the scenery of the Fan Residence's garden! Everywhere he looked, there were beautiful women gracefully moving, which truly delighted Wei Tingyu's eyes!
"We'll come again next time!" Lady Li Niang lightly patted Fu Hui's hand with her round fan, smiling. She was quite satisfied with her second daughter now, completely rid of the disappointment and anger she had felt when the Li family was refused entry at the Fan Residence's gate. After all, she knew Fu Hui had been forced into that situation, and now that the mother and daughter had spoken openly, their deep affection was immediately restored. What surprised Lady Li Niang most was that Fu Hui's mental state seemed much better than yesterday! She assumed it was because she was extremely excited by her and her sisters' arrival! There was certainly some truth to that, but the main reason was that her second daughter was completely smitten with love. Of course, Third Daughter Kang Ning already knew about this, and at this moment, she was secretly glancing back and forth between Second Sister Fu Hui and Wei Tingyu, trying to see if they would reveal any flaws.
"Stay a few more days..." Fu Hui pouted her small mouth and continued to persuade, but before she could finish, Fifth Daughter Le Shan suddenly cried out.
"Mother! Look out!"
Accompanying Le Shan's cry of surprise, everyone looked up and discovered a cuju ball flying from nowhere, heading straight for the Li family's mother and daughters. Although the cuju itself was made of bamboo and wouldn't cause injury even if it hit someone, its sudden descent from the sky still startled the women, making their faces lose color! Lady Li Niang was quickly pulled aside by her eldest and second daughters, and since Fourth and Fifth followed behind, the cuju couldn't hit them either. Only Third Daughter Kang Ning had been single-mindedly focusing her eyes on Fu Hui and Wei Tingyu, and by the time she reacted, it was already too late.
The cuju ball descended with a whoosh, heading straight for Kang Ning's forehead. No matter how resolute Kang Ning's personality, she was still a girl! Suddenly seeing this scene, she was immediately stunned, frozen in place, forgetting to dodge, and even involuntarily closed her eyes.
Thwack!
Accompanying a clear sound, Kang Ning's brows furrowed slightly, but she didn't feel the cuju ball hit her head. She slowly opened her eyes and found a reassuring figure standing in front of her! His left hand was slightly raised, and he had caught the cuju ball about an inch above her forehead. And this person was, of course, Wei Tingyu, who had been following behind everyone!
"Mar... Marquis..." Kang Ning was startled, then stared directly into Wei Tingyu's eyes and called out softly. At this moment, a gentle breeze blew, and the ends of Kang Ning's long, flowing hair were carried by the breeze, even lightly brushing against Wei Tingyu's cheek. Wei Tingyu hadn't expected that even heaven itself was assisting him at this moment! But these strands of dark hair emitted a faint fragrance, which, besides the ticklish feeling on his cheek, also made his heart itch! And Kang Ning, of course, also saw her hair being blown by the wind and lightly brushing against Wei Tingyu's face, and her cheeks immediately flushed red. After all, she was an unmarried young girl, and a scene like lightly smelling hair was truly a bit too intimate!
"Third Daughter! Are you alright?!" At this moment, Lady Li Niang, as her mother, also reacted and quickly rushed to Kang Ning, pulling her and checking her up and down.
"Third Sister! Why is your face so red? Were you hit by the cuju?" Fourth Daughter Hao De blinked. She had been closest to Kang Ning just now and had watched her face turn from white to red, and she was also terribly anxious. As soon as she spoke, the other Li family sisters also gathered around, their eyes filled with worry. Although this cuju ball wasn't heavy and wouldn't cause any substantial harm if it hit someone, it was indeed very frightening! If such a sudden blow scared Kang Ning's soul out of her, and she became a confused, foolish girl, what would they do?
"No, no!" Kang Ning immediately instinctively took a step back, widening the distance between herself and Wei Tingyu, and then said, "The cuju... was caught by the Marquis... it didn't... hit me!" "I... was just scared... now... I'm fine..."
Hearing Kang Ning's stammering explanation, Wei Tingyu also chuckled inwardly. This appearance was nothing like the sharp-tongued Third Daughter of the Li family he knew before! She seemed like a completely different person!
"That's good! That's good!" Lady Li Niang heavily nodded upon hearing her daughter's words, and the tense expression on her face also relaxed.
"Thank you, Marquis!" Her mood slightly calmer, Lady Li Niang took half a step back and solemnly bowed to Wei Tingyu again. At this moment, in her eyes, the Li family owed Wei Tingyu more and more! How could they ever repay this kindness completely?!
"Thank you, Marquis!" The other Li family daughters, like their mother, also solemnly bowed to Wei Tingyu. Only Kang Ning stood there blankly, staring foolishly at Wei Tingyu, her mind seemingly elsewhere.
"Kang Ning!" Eldest Daughter Shou Hua tugged at her third sister's sleeve, signaling her with her eyes to quickly thank the Marquis.
"Oh!" Kang Ning finally reacted, glanced at Wei Tingyu again, and then bowed, saying, "Third Daughter thanks the Marquis for saving her!"
"It was just a small effort! Nothing to be thankful for!" Wei Tingyu smiled slightly, waving his hand.
"To the Marquis, it was a small effort, but to our Li family's mother and daughters, it was a great kindness!" Lady Li Niang then stood up and said to Wei Tingyu, "For a person of the Marquis's noble status to be willing to make such a small effort for people like us, that is already a profound act of grace!"
"Indeed! Although the cuju isn't heavy, what if it hit someone's head and made them foolish?" Fourth Daughter Hao De nodded and said.
"Forget making them foolish, a sudden misfortune flying out of nowhere could even scare someone silly!" Eldest Daughter Shou Hua also looked terrified at this moment, lightly patting her small chest with her fair hand, and at the same time nodded, "If it weren't for the Marquis... that scene just now made my legs go weak!"
"No, wait! Were those the fierce young ladies from just now?" "Brother Fan! Didn't you say your wife's sisters were all tigresses? Why are they like little kittens in front of the Marquis now?" "...How would I know? They've certainly never been like that with me!"
Meanwhile, Chai An, the instigator of this suddenly flying cuju ball, along with Fan Lianghan and the two profligate young masters in women's clothing, were hiding behind another clump of trees, secretly observing this scene. They had originally intended to use this cuju to make the Li family's mother and daughters' faces lose color from fright, so they could then step out with great pretense and mock them for their lack of feminine composure! Who would have thought that Wei Tingyu, who had been following behind, would suddenly flash forward and block the cuju they had kicked! This made Chai An feel extremely indignant! Good heavens! His meticulously prepared show-off moment was actually stolen by Wei Tingyu?! And it allowed him to gain such great favor in front of the Li family's mother and daughters?! Thinking of this, Chai An clenched his hands. He absolutely had to get his revenge! This was no longer just the feud of Fan Lianghan and these two profligate young masters!